An economics consultant and former adviser to the Treasury, Coyle left the Independent after eight years in 2001 to set up her own company specialising in the economics of new technologies.

Coyle is a contributor to the New Statesman, a visiting professor of the Institute of Political and Economic Governance at the University of Manchester and a research committee member of the Economics and Social Research Council.

She has recently published a book about sustainable economics called The Economics of Enough: How to Run the Economy as if the Future Matters.

Coyle was also a member of Lord Browne's review of higher education funding, which said the cap on student fees should be lifted. She is also a keen user of new technologies such as Twitter and Facebook.

The appointment still has to receive the formal approval of the Queen, who under the terms of the BBC royal charter is responsible for appointing the trust's chairman, vice chairman and trustees on the recommendation of the government.

Outgoing BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said: "I welcome the confirmation that Diane Coyle is being put forward to be the next vice-Chairman of the BBC Trust. Diane has made an important contribution to the work of the trust in its first four years, particularly in leading the trust's work on public value. I'm sure that in this expanded role Diane will be looking forward to the opportunity to bring her wisdom, insight and consistent good humour to even more of the trust's work."

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